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Victims React to Recommended Sentence for White Nationalist

A young white nationalist is likely to spend the rest of his life behind bars. That's the sentence jurors recommended for the car attack that killed a young Charlottesville woman. Jurors added another 419 years behind bars to punish him for the many people he injured. Bureau Chief Julie Carey got reaction from those whose lives have been changed forever by the hate-fueled drive. (Published Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018)

Jurors in the trial of a man convicted of murder for driving his car into counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally have recommended that he spend the rest of his life behind bars.

After two days of deliberation, the jury decided that James Alex Fields Jr. should serve life in prison for the death of Heather Heyer and an additional 419 years for the other nine charges he was convicted of last week.

Fields showed no emotion as he learned the jury's recommendation.

“I don’t hate him, but my God, the kid’s messed up,” Heyer's mother, Susan Bro, said after the jury made its recommendation.

The mother of Heather Heyer speaks at her daughter's memorial service: "They tried to kill my child to shut her up. Well, guess what? You just magnified her."

(Published Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017)

A judge will decide on March 29 whether to impose the jury's recommendation or reduce it.

"Hopefully the outcome achieved today is Charlottesville's small part in rejecting and holding accountable those whose violent acts against others are fueled by hatred," Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney Joe Platania said.

A victim from Northern Virginia who testified in the trial and wants to protect her identity from white supremacists called Fields a terrorist.

Several people who were severely injured by Fields described devastating physical and psychological effects during sentencing Monday.

Jeanne "Star" Peterson said her life has been "a living nightmare" since she was hit by Fields' car. Her right leg was shattered, and she's had five surgeries to try to repair it. She also suffered a broken spine and still hasn't been able to return to work.

A psychologist testifying for the defense said Fields has a long history of mental health issues, including bipolar disorder.